http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.ph ... 0&cat_id=1
Does anyone really want reunification?
ANYONE not familiar with the long history of grandstanding and political bluster associated with the Cyprus problem would have thought that the events of the last week have put paid to any hope that the two leaders would ever reach an agreement.
First there was the incident of the Turkish warship preventing two ships carrying out hydrocarbon explorations in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, by threatening to use force. This was followed on Tuesday by Mehmet Ali Talat’s angry tirade during the talks against President Christofias’ visit to Moscow and the signing of several agreements with the Russian government. An agitated Christofias subsequently declared Talat had no right to challenge the sovereignty of the Republic, while on Wednesday, in his speech at an official dinner in Athens he launched a vicious attack on the Turkish Cypriot leader.
For people familiar with the Cyprus problem, these events were nothing unusual, just another theatrical performance by the main players who are accustomed to entertaining their respective audiences with aggressive rhetoric. This, it could be said, was as much part of the talks as the photographs of the smiling leaders shaking hands. As for Turkey, the bullying tactics in the seas were nothing new – she has been constantly bickering with Greece about exploration rights, but this had not affected the fast improving relations between the two countries. It was how things were done in this part of the world, the more cynical would argue.
But this attitude, cultivated over the decades, might be distorting our view of reality, preventing us from seeing things as they are. And despite the optimism about the procedure voiced by the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy, Alexander Downer, in an interview last weekend, the signs are not good. After two-and-a-half months of talks, little has been agreed at the negotiating table, even though it is said the outstanding differences would be sorted when the procedure enters the give-and-take stage. But by the time we arrive at the give-and-take stage, the political climate, which has been steadily deteriorating after the initial honeymoon period, could be so bad that nobody would want a settlement.
Talat and Christofias must shoulder most of the responsibility for the current situation, as they have been publicly bickering and exchanging accusations ever since the start of the direct talks. They might smile for the photographers before they enter the negotiating room, but once they leave they commence the verbal assaults on each other, giving ammunition to the hardliners on both sides to poison the atmosphere and rekindle the old feelings of mistrust and hostility. Does either of them sincerely believe that this is the best way to prepare people for re-unification and power-sharing?
In mitigation, it is often said that both leaders have to take tough stances in public in order to keep the hardliners of their respective communities on side. This is not a credible argument, as it would be rank stupidity to turn the majority of the population against a compromise deal in order to keep the hardliners happy. A more plausible explanation would be that the tough rhetoric is directed to the majorities on both sides, neither of which is particularly keen on reunification and power-sharing.
And judging by the way they have been behaving, neither are Talat and Christofias, both of whom obdurately refuse to engage in the discourse of reconciliation and co-operation. When the two comrades, who supposedly have chemistry and are committed to a settlement, are constantly bickering and incapable of showing good faith, what chance is there of a federation working? A federation, no matter how well regulated it is, requires an abundance of good faith, a constructive attitude and a big appetite for compromise to work. The two leaders have never displayed these qualities, so why are we expecting them to do so in the event of a settlement? But even in the highly unlikely event that they did, would they have the support of the people?
We should stop deluding ourselves. Such is the mistrust, resentment and bad faith on both sides that the possibility of reunification and power-sharing working is minimal. Perhaps now is the time to consider the possibility of formalising our long separation. It would have much more public support than any attempt at reunification. As Rauf Denktash always said, you cannot force two unwilling partners to marry against their will.
Don't you read Der Spiegel??? The Fuhrer will be furious!
